Motor memory: concept, features, stages of development, games and exercises

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

There are a large number of different classifications of memory in psychology. Various species make one or another significant contribution to the normal development of a person in the process of ontogenesis. However, unlike others, psychologists pay far less attention to motor memory than to everyone else. Meanwhile, it is considered the most important for development, and its violations entail irreparable consequences.

Types of memory

Psychologists distinguish several basic classifications. Many people know that according to the duration of information storage in memory, they distinguish between long-term, short-term and operational. The principle here is the same as in the computer.

Memory, which determines a particular area of human activity, is usually divided into:

• motor;
• emotional;
• verbal-logical;
• shaped.

Each of these species plays an important role in the normal functioning of the human body.

The concept of motor memory

This species, according to the definitions of psychological dictionaries,is responsible for memorizing various kinds of movements of a vast degree of complexity and playing them offline or at will.

The type of motor memory affects the formation of such important human qualities as the ability to master various physical systems (walking, writing, work skills).

Characteristics of other species

Unlike motor memory, emotional memory has a deeper psychological meaning. It stores certain events in the form of their emotional coloring and will determine the further actions of a person, based on the acquired emotional experience.

Verbal-logical memory is very important in the development of human thinking. In a sense, we can say that it is precisely this that is thinking directly. Its main function is to remember the thoughts that have arisen and reproduce them using language structures.

Figurative memory draws information from our sensory analyzers. It processes and stores the knowledge that was obtained through the organs of hearing, sight, smell, touch.

Features of motor memory

This species is responsible for all motor processes, from elementary movement in space to complex physical exercises.

Like all other types of memory, motor memory depends on many factors and is prone to forgetting. However, the process of forgetting movements is slow, and when repeated, memory quicklyis being restored. For example, if a person has learned a dance and has not reproduced it for several months, then he will forget many movements, and if he repeats a couple of times, he will remember.

Motor memory can also exist offline. For example, having learned to walk, eat cutlery and perform many other actions, a person performs them without thinking.

There are several criteria that determine its quality:

• Accuracy is a criterion that shows how dexterous movements are in space.
• Volume - a certain number of memorized, stored and reproduced movements.
• Stability is a criterion that shows the infallibility of certain actions performed.
• Strength.

It is these criteria that formed the basis of the system for evaluating the performance of athletes at various competitions.

Stages of development

The development of this type of memory begins very early. Even in the first months of life, the child reproduces various movements based on conditioned reflexes. Many of them are lost in the process of growing up.

The processes of development of motor memory in children are further associated with the conscious memorization and reproduction of various movements. Already at the age of nine months, many children begin to learn to walk.

By the year, motor memory is formed at a sufficient level for the child to begin to master speech processes.

Gradually acquired experience accumulates, andby the age of five, a child can start mastering such an important motor skill as writing.

Motor memory can develop throughout life. It also depends on the genetic predisposition, age and occupation of the person. So, in athletes and people engaged in physical labor, this memory is better developed than in others.

Violations of the memory type in question

Underdevelopment or impaired motor memory is a serious problem that can largely affect the quality of human life.

In severe disorders, a person may have problems moving in space and self-care. It will be difficult for him to be given sports loads, mastering dance movements.

As a rule, some disorders of motor memory can affect not only autonomous movements, but also the quality of writing and reading. A person with this problem is more difficult to learn. He often makes elementary grammatical mistakes, confuses words when reading.

Most often this leads to such a specific and very unpleasant violation as dysgraphia. And in more severe cases - to agraphia, that is, a complete inability to master the principles of writing.

Causes of violations

There are many reasons for motor memory disorders. Most often, this is a consequence of any damage to parts of the brain due to injuries, circulatory problems, tumors and other pathological processes.

Children and adults withsuch disorders should be observed by a neurologist and defectologist without fail.

Workout Exercises

Motor memory, like any other, is trained through special exercises. Consider some of them:

• You need to sit on a chair near the wall, where a blank sheet of paper with a dot in the middle is attached. With your eyes closed, you need to count to five and put a dot with a pencil in the place where you think the middle of the sheet is. This exercise must be repeated periodically, but regularly. In this way, in the process of training motor memory, the distance from the middle of the sheet will be reduced. In the process of improving the results, it is necessary to gradually increase the number of points and the pause time between drawing.
• It is necessary to draw lines with closed eyes, the same length. Then measure their length and try to repeat if the lines were very different. You need to draw them in different directions.

These exercises are quite simple, but with regular training they are able to make motor memory more flexible. It can help you learn new physical skills, improve spatial coordination, and even affect learning.

Educational games

There are many games that can develop motor memory in children.

For example, the game "Repeat after me", which is based on the fact that the child must quickly repeat the movements of the leader. Preferably with music.

Or the game develops well the processes of this type of memory"Forbidden Movement" The essence of the game is to also repeat the leading movements, except for one forbidden one. This movement is shown to the child in advance so that he remembers it.

Also, many played "Edible-Inedible", when the name of edible products the child has to catch the ball, and at the mention of something inedible - to hit it with his hand. This game, in addition to reflexes and reactions, develops the child's knowledge of objects. Also, games for repeating a drawing are well developed memory, which in the future can become the basis for mastering writing.

Besides, nothing develops motor memory as well as sports activities. Gymnastics, tennis, football and other mobile sports disciplines are able to develop and correct the presented type of memory.

That is why it is so important not to neglect physical activity, spend more time in motion and in the fresh air, which is useful not only for motor processes, but also for the he alth of the body as a whole.